Further Research

Nationale-Nederlanden Building (a.k.a. Dancing House)
Architect: Frank O. Gehry
Client: International Netherlands Group
Location: Prague, Czech Republic
Design: 1992-1996
Program: Office Building, Cafe, Restaurant
Budget: $9,000,000
Area: 58,000 sq ft
Materials: Steel, Glass, Precast concrete, Plaster finish



Context
The building is located in the historic district of Prague, along the Vltava River, which provided a rich contextual background for Gehry to work with. He spent 10 days in Prague before he started designing, and with the help of Vladmir Milunic (the collaborative local architect) several observations were made about the existing architecture.

In Prague, “they designed old buildings with implied towers” and it was also noted that many buildings had a decorative cap or “hat” on the top. There was also a distinct texture which the buildings exhibited due to the colored plaster which was often used. Gehry and Milunic took these ideas to create the concept for the Nationale-Nederlanden Building (Dancing House), although it would go through many transformations along the way.

Design Concept
In the elevations of the building, the windows play an important role. The surrounding buildings are five levels and while the height line was maintained with the Nationale-Nederlanden, it has seven floors. Gehry intended to blur this difference by undulating the windows up and down on the facade.

A decision was made to project the windows out, as if they were hanging like a picture on a wall to create more of a textural quality to relate with the existing buildings once again.
For the same reasons, wavy cornice lines were created in the plaster facade.

Structure
Gehry’s architectural firm used modelling software to calculate and test eccentric and irrational geometries. At first glance at the Dancing House it is the building seem to require a lot of hours with engineers to figure out how to keep the structure standing. Several columns are located throughout the building which extend through all seven levels. These account for gravity loads.

Screenshots of 3D Modelling Software

The glass structure consists of two layers of glass panels, bolted to the curved steel frame. The interior layer is actually the wall and the exterior layer is like a screen for the offices. The rest of the structure is formed with the use of precast concrete panels with insulation and has a plaster finish.


The sculpture which sits on top of the building is made from metal mesh strips intertwined and bolted together to make and interesting and unique shape.

References
Frankcesco & Kurt W. Forster. Frank O. Gehry. New York: The Monacelli Press, 1998
Friedman, Mildred, Gehry Talks, New York: Rizzoli International Publications, 1999
http://www.daapspace.daap.uc.edu/~larsongr/Larsonline/Gehry_files/Gehry-FrGin.pdf (Accessed 15-10-2009)